The Educator Preparation and Development area of the Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 describes how teachers must be proficient in the use of technology in the classroom if they are to be successful teaching today’s students. New teachers must meet Technology Applications education standards before entering the classroom, and veteran teachers should be given opportunities for embedded professional development.
The Plan states that the professional development offered should, “transform their teaching and learning, to renew and invigorate their passion for teaching, to acquire the new pedagogical and technology skills they must have, and to understand how to successfully integrate technology into instruction, across the curriculum, at all grade levels.” (“Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020,” p. 24)
At our local campus, we have not been successful at reaching Target Tech status. Our STaR data shows that we have been given the infrastructure necessary and we have the support of administration (Advanced Tech), but this is not being translated into increased success in the classroom (Developing Tech) and there has been no improvement in three years. In fact, the data regarding Educator Preparation and Development has not changed at all.
At the state level, according to the December 2008 Progress Report on the Long Range Plan (2008), the Intel Teach Program and Technology Applications Teacher Network (TATN) allow teachers access to curriculum and support from other technology teachers so that they may learn from and help each other create new and improve existing technology resources. Many schools have taken advantage of these educational opportunities.
According to the Congressional Testimony (6-16-2009) of Wayne Hartschuh, Executive Director Delaware Center for Educational Technology, “In Utah, Missouri, and Maine, the eMINTS program provides schools and teachers with educational technology tools, curriculum, and over 200 hours of professional development to change how teachers teach and students learn.” Schools have partnered with colleges to provide ongoing education for both teachers and students and the result has been increased student participation, decreased behavior problems, increased attendance, and increased test scores.
The information and resources are available for teachers to receive the education necessary to move forward into a more technology rich program. Time must be allocated to allow teachers and trainers to investigate these opportunities.